Economics

The doctoral major in economics is designed to give students a strong foundation in microeconomic theory and to develop their skills in applying economic analysis to issues in Global Health and Population. In addition to training in economic theory, developing this major will also involve studying recent empirical economic research on Global Health and Population issues. The rigorous training in this major, together with the interdisciplinary training they receive in other areas, will allow students to proceed to undertake their own research using economic models of behavior.

Examples of research topics that might be pursued following an economics major are: cost benefit analysis of medical interventions, estimating the effect of poverty and social deprivation on health, estimating the value of health as an instrument for increasing labor productivity, modeling the effects of medical care costs on use of services, the effect of government regulation on market structures and private health care provision, the analysis of the effects of health insurance on the access to and supply of health care, the effect of fertility choice and family size on child poverty and health, mechanisms for developing new drugs and treatments.

Most accepted candidates have a strong background in economics, often at the master’s level. In addition to population and health economics, knowledge of multivariate calculus, microeconomics, development economics, and econometrics is particularly useful.

For more information related to Economics, please contact:David Canning (Head of Major)

Department Guide

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The 2014-15 Degree Program Guide is available in Adobe PDF format and contains a list of courses, faculty, as well as contact information for specific degree programs.